Will County, established in 1836, has a population of approximately 700,000 residents and covers an area of 2,198 square kilometers. Will County, situated in northeastern Illinois, has its county seat in Joliet City. Home to the Chicagoland Speedway, a popular venue for NASCAR races, Will County has transitioned from an agriculturally driven economy to a diverse economy recognized for its vibrant communities and natural beauty.

Courts in Will County

The Will County court system comprises Circuit Courts and Administrative Adjudication. The Will County Circuit Court, part of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court, is the highest court in the county. It has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases.

The Circuit Court is organized into divisions, including Probate, which presides over the administration of the decedent's estate, and Traffic Division, which handles cases related to traffic violations and infractions. Other divisions include the Domestic Relations Division, which handles divorce and child support cases, and the Juvenile Division, which presides over cases involving minors.

The Administrative Adjudication in Will County handles ordinance violation cases. They preside over violations of state laws such as speeding tickets, parking tickets, disorderly conduct, zoning, and building code violations.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Will County

Public court records are the documents and papers generated in court during legal proceedings and are open to the public for inspection and copying. The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains Will County court records and maintains a database to obtain public court records. Interested persons can utilize the iPublic Portal to view public court records. In addition, record seekers may visit the courthouse to view or obtain copies of public court records. The court also permits mail requests for public court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Will County

Public court records provide insights into the judicial proceedings in the county. The following court records are open to the public in Will County:

• Civil Court Records: Landlord/tenant disputes, small claims, property disputes, and personal injury claims
• Criminal Court Records: Arrest warrants, sentencing orders, felonies, and misdemeanor court record
• Probate Records: Probate petitions, letters of administration, guardianship orders, and wills
• Family Law Records: Child custody orders, spousal support orders, and marriage dissolution records
• Traffic Court Records: Traffic citations, including tickets, traffic court judgments, and arrest reports

Confidential Court Records in Will County

Confidential court records are the papers and documents from the courts unavailable to the public. Confidential court records contain private information restricted by state or federal law or court orders to protect the individual's privacy. The following court records are unavailable to the public in Will County:

• Mental health records
• Trade secrets
• Juvenile court records
• Adoption records
• Drug and alcohol treatment information

Personal identifiers contained with a court record are confidential information exempted from public view. Disclosing personal identifying information in a court record may result in future harm or lead to identity theft and financial fraud. Confidential personal identifiers excluded from public court records in Will County include:

• Social Security numbers
• Driver’s license numbers
• Financial account numbers
• Victim identifying information in sexual assault cases
• Tax identification numbers

Juvenile Delinquency in Will, IL

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Will County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Illinois often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 724 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Will County. Of that total, 74% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 535 court cases. Another 24% were dependency cases that accounted for 177 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Will County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Will County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Will County, IL

https://www2.illinois.gov/

County Seat:	Joliet
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1836
Total Square Miles:	849
2019 Population:	692,661
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Will County, IL Courts